Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-05-25

boStlllbilS iS 10 the ildltpT Ol tIle auNeT-
tisement ne carried in his inside coat
pocket copy of the Boston Journal,
which contained notice of consider
able Importance to Tad Thorne, could
he but have known it.
CHAPTER XII
It was n lovely Saturday afternoon,
and, of course, IL half-holiday for Blk
port youth. Tad had been very busy
all the forenoon, as Mr.. and Mrs.
Mason. Of Boston, had arrived the
night before, and taken the spare
room. They were very weclthy peo-
PIE, who had boarded with Miss Smith
for three successive summers, find
ing in the quiet of this secluded
village an enjoyment that no crowded
watcring-place could give them.
Tad had seen very little of them,
and only noticed that the lady was
rather stout and ploasant-faced, while
the gentleman was also stout and
rather jolly. The name was curiously
familiar, though, and he racked his
brain in -ain to think where he had
heard il.
Tad always had his liberty on Sat
urday afternoon. and. borrowing Mr..
Kenncth's big, 1at-bottomcd boat, he
had invited Joe Whitney, Polly FlagS
and the dog Bounce to go after lilies in
Bixport pond-a beautiful sheet Of
water. not far from Deacon Whitney's.
There's Mr.. Mason and his wife al
ready" said Polly, glanc:ng ashore;
"they always put up some lunch and
start for the pond just rs soon rs they
get fairly settled at Miss Smiths"
"And there are those two Boston
girls that are boarding at Widow Simp-
son's-with Mr.. Forrest" added Joe,
with slight chuckle, as he remem-
bercd the bitten apple.
Come ashore and have some lunch,
young folks" called Mr.. Mason, who
was II great favoritc in Bixport, be-
cause, rs they said. "he nor his wife
put on city airs-if they scere worth
half u million dollars"
So the boat was headed for the shore,
and, as it touched the beach. Polly,
with both hands full Of long-stcmmed,
fragrant treasures, jumped ashore
followed, more slowly, by Tad and Joe.
"John, dear, UiH you look at those
lovely lilies" exclaimed Mrs. Mason;
and. at the sound of her voice, it all
came back to Tad-the Pullman car,
and the night journey to Boston be-
hind Mrs. John G.. Mason's chair, shell
tered by Mrs. John &. Mason's cloak.
How funny it was, to be sure!
The little party gathered round the
lunch-baskct, under the shade of some
delightfully."- tall pines, and began to
discuss n rather substantial lunch. AT
little distance were the Misses Baker,
two very nice girls of culture, from
Boston-and, having said this, it is
perhaps unnecessary to add that the
younger wore eyeglasses, and had
brought volume Of Ruskin for light
reading, while her sister, with artistic
tendencies, was seated under n large
white umbrella before an easel, making
n sketch of Bixport pond in oils. Mr..
Forrest, who represented himself as Of
one of the first families of New York,
was most deliberately dressed in a cool
and becoming boating suit Of cream
colored flannel; and when he arose
from very green messy log on which
he had been sitting. the effect of color
was so striking as to draw an audible
snort from the observant Joe Whitney.
"Say, Mr.. Forrest" he called. with
his mouth full of sandwich. 81 wouldn't
set down much in thsm white clos
they're all strcaked up behind now; be-
sides, there's lots of bumble-b bee s-nests
round here"
Mr.. Forrest, who had turned very
red, did not receive the suggestion in a
kindly spirit.
Young man," he said, loftily, "allow
me to say that your coarse familiarity
is very unplcasant-have the goodness
to attend To your own affairs"
"All right" replied Joe. with wink
of exquisite meaning directed to Polly,
who shook her head at him warniugiy,
and, after another attack on the eat
ables, he sat in silent meditation.
''Got n pin, Polly?" he asked. in q
low tone of voice, as he wiped linger.
ing crumb or two from his lips with hi:
coat-slcevc.
What do you want of it?" suspi
ciously returned Polly.
"Why-I want itr' was the unsatis
factory reply.
Here's one, joe" said Mr.. Mason
! with, / regret to say, IA somewhat hu
morous twinkle in his eye.
"Now, Johnw expostulated his wife
rs Joe, taking it, rose to- his feet an,
strolled of. "what made youp-yo
kRo'0 that boy is always up to som
kind Of mischief"
But Mr.. Mason, who had stretchc
himself ut ease on the green sward
with his straw hat over his face
seemed suddenly to have fallen into
deep sleep, not unprecedented by n
occasional snore; so Mrs. Mason, lear
ing back against n trce-trunk, fame
herself languidly, and cbatted wit
Polly, who was making q lily-wreat
for her shade-hat, while Bounce Ia
looking on with lazy interest. TaC
hugging his knees, which were draw
nearly up to his chin, sat n little di
lance of. thinking how singular it W;
that, in a big world, ne should agai
have met the owner of the fur cloal
and wondering what she would say
she knew the part she had played
helping him along on his way TO Ri,
port.
1t was one of those delightful sur
, mer afternoons when one feels dish
clined to do any thing but dream ava
} the idle hours. The clear. unruiilc
! surface Of Bixport pond reflected Il
drifting white clouds overhead. and q
, tall. whispering pines which bent ov
} its margin, as faithfully as some gre
! mirror. Far of, Mt the other end,
solitary loon sent out his quivering CT
from time to time, while now and the